Washington, D.C. Passes 8 Week Paid Parental Leave Bill | Forbes

On Tuesday, lawmakers in Washington, D.C. passed one of the most generous paid parental leave laws in the U.S.

The new legislation will grant all full- and part-time workers in the city eight weeks of leave at up to 90% of their full weekly wages for birth, adoption or fostering. The bill also provides for six weeks of family leave to look after a sick relative and two weeks for a personal medical emergency.

The law will only cover private-sector workers, excluding those on city or federal payroll. To qualify, a worker need only be employed in D.C.; residents of other cities and states with jobs in the capital are eligible. Non-profit workers and the self-employed are also covered.